Jesus Maria “Chuy” Castellano

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Jesus Maria “Chuy” Castellano, 97, of Brownsville and Linn-San Manuel passed away peacefully on Friday, the 12th of November 2021.

Chuy was born on the 7th of August 1924 in Premont, Texas, son of Miguel and Theodora Galindo Castellano. He was a rancher, a banker, and an entrepreneur well-known throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Preceding Chuy in death were his parents, Miguel and Theodora G. Castellano; his sisters, Aurora Gonzalez and Aida Perez; and his grandson, Michael Saldana.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of seventy-seven years, Josefa Tijerina Castellano, and their five children: Gloria Moore (Edward), Josie Cappadona (Fred+), Sara Saldana (Enrique), Lucy Castellano  (Christopher Ludolph), and Joe Michael Castellano (Abigail); fifteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren; one sister, Agueda Soliz; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Chuy was a devoted husband, a loving father, and fun-loving grandfather who epitomized the term gentleman with his honesty, integrity, compassion, loyalty, and his zest for life. Proudly serving within the U.S. Army as an infantryman in Europe during World War II, Chuy earned the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal.  He entered the service in the Army and then volunteered into the newly formed Air Force with the 83rd Airdrome Squadron. After being honorably discharged from his military service, Chuy worked as a banker and farmed family lands in San Pedro along the Rio Grande River. He began ranching in Linn-San Manuel and founded the “Rocking C” Ranch where he established a registered Beefmaster herd. Chuy was a Charter founder of Brownsville National Bank and served as its Director and President of the Board. In addition to serving on the Housing Authority Board, he was a member of the Order of Alhambra and was involved in numerous community programs.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, the 16th of November 2021 between the hours of three o’clock in the afternoon and nine o’clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o’clock Tuesday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 17th of November 2021 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville. Entombment will follow, via an escorted procession, within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are his grandsons Fred J. Cappadona III, Justin M. Cappadona, Christopher E. Moore, Jared M. Cuellar, Jose Miguel Castellano II, and Michael Saldana+, and great-grandson, Cayetano Cappadona. Honorary pallbearers are Tomas Canales, Abraham Galonsky, and Emiliano Galindo.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, please consider donations in his memory to the Jesus M. and Josefa T. Castellano Scholarship Endowment Fund at The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Juan Martinez and his wonderful staff; his visiting nurse Elda Garcia, his communicant from St. Mary’s Catholic Church Lydia Gaspar, and his caregivers, Catalina Munoz, Maria Morales, Fidela Guerrero, Cirila Tovar, and Guillermina Nieto.

Memories of Chuy may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.